Agriculture

Farmers and mental health
Reading Time: 5 minutes In this Mental Health Awareness Week, which also coincides with this year’s Balmoral Show, this article examines an issue which has received comparatively little attention and on which, so far, not much research has been

What now for direct support to farmers in Northern Ireland post-Brexit?
Reading Time: 5 minutes A key issue within Northern Ireland since the UK’s decision to leave the EU in June 2016 is exactly how this decision will affect local farming?

How could the Brexit vote affect farming and food in Northern Ireland?
Reading Time: 6 minutes The agri-food sector is a significant one for the economy and employment in Northern Ireland. For a number of reasons, the implications of the vote to leave the EU are difficult to gauge at this

A new mandate, a new Environment
Reading Time: 3 minutes Local government underwent significant structural change in 2015 with the number of councils reducing from 26 to 11, and the transfer of many functions from central to local government. This has brought changes to the

Are current farm incomes sustainable?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Farm incomes over the last five years in Northern Ireland have shown considerable volatility and this presents challenges for the long- term sustainability of the industry, both within and beyond the new Assembly mandate.